Method of integrating an avionics bay and floor structure for implementation

Abstract

An integrated avionics bay in a floor area can be provided with adequate ventilation. The structure of an aircraft cockpit floor is able to integrate at least one bay, with a walking floor in the cockpit, a structural volume and a bay integrated in a space of the liberated structural volume. The bay as integrated in a horizontal position in this space includes a peripheral frame with at least one protective cover with a direct access to the bay at the floor level and a lower wall with a rear face access. Side openings formed in the frame can couple with vertical walls to allow fresh air blowing from the rear wall of the bay via a flow from rearwards to upwards to reach the top cover and an air extraction by an upper surface extractor.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of integrating an avionics bay in an aircraft floor structure, the method comprising:
 liberating a space in the aircraft floor structure; 
 integrating the avionics bay in a horizontal position in the space; 
 making a direct access to the avionics bay from an upper surface at a floor level by a protective cover configured to function as a floor; and 
 performing a forced ventilation of the avionics bay by blowing fresh air vertically from a lower wall of the avionics bay, wherein the protective cover channels the air from the forced ventilation through walls of the avionics bay; 
 wherein the avionics bay comprises side openings formed in a frame and associated with vertical walls, the side openings configured for channeling the air through the vertical walls in order to carry out the forced ventilation vertically. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of integration according to  claim 1 , wherein performing the forced ventilation of the avionics bay comprises extracting the air through an upper wall of the avionics bay after thermic exchange. 
     
     
       3. The method of integration according to  claim 1 , further comprising transferring a shear load by reinforcing a structural volume around the space. 
     
     
       4. The method of integration according to  claim 1 , further comprising making an access through a lower surface of the avionics bay from a front hold. 
     
     
       5. The method of integration according to  claim 1 , further comprising laterally supplying fresh air, between upper and lower walls of the avionics bay, before diverting the fresh air towards the lower wall and then vertically delivering the fresh air from the lower wall. 
     
     
       6. The method of integration according to  claim 1 , further comprising performing a sealing and fluid drainage function outside the avionics bay. 
     
     
       7. The method of integration according to  claim 1 , further comprising collecting fresh air by an upper wall of the avionics bay with the aim of an extraction via a flow of channeled air. 
     
     
       8. A floor structure of an aircraft integrating at least one avionics bay, the floor structure comprising:
 a walking floor; and 
 a structural volume supported by crosspieces on which the walking floor rests; 
 a protective cover providing a direct access to the avionics bay from an upper surface at a floor level, the protective cover being configured to function as a floor and channel air from a forced ventilation through walls of the avionics bay; 
 wherein the crosspieces and the walking floor are cut so that a space is liberated in the structural volume, the avionics bay being integrated in a horizontal position in the space; and 
 wherein the avionics bay comprises side openings formed in a frame and associated with vertical walls, the side openings configured for channeling the air through the vertical walls in order to carry out the forced ventilation vertically. 
 
     
     
       9. The floor structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the side openings are configured to allow fresh air blowing from a lower wall of the avionics bay up to the protective cover and air extraction by an upper surface extractor. 
     
     
       10. The floor structure according to  claim 9 , wherein the side openings are equipped with a diaphragm. 
     
     
       11. The floor structure according to  claim 8 , further comprising stiffening sheets for transferring a load that are arranged just in front of and between cut girders. 
     
     
       12. The floor structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the avionics bay comprises a peripheral frame with at least one protective cover for direct access to the avionics bay at the floor level and an access rear opening in a lower surface. 
     
     
       13. The floor structure according to  claim 12 , wherein the walls and the protective cover of the avionics bay are arranged in connection with stiffening sheets. 
     
     
       14. The floor structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the avionics bay is divided in boxes comprising the vertical walls configured to allow upward blowing of fresh air in every compartment. 
     
     
       15. The floor structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the structural volume of the floor structure is divided in boxes.